RCRD LBL

Peace anyone?

tinkerbell....?

This week despite seeing a stream of steady acts, we keep harking back to last week at Bowery Ballroom when Lykke Li charged in with some serious energy, gusto, and ambition......not to mention a megaphone. Though the Bowery crowd was quite tame, Lykke Li was intent to start a dance party- and didn’t care if she was the only one dancing. Like a dreamgirl realized, she lived up to all our high-touted (and perhaps inflated) expectations. Granted she’s one girl, one 23-year-old at that, but she unleashed an enticing range of songs, including previewing some songs this American audience had not yet heard (outside her EP) - and all were note-worthy. She smartly started with the crowd pleasers “Dance. Dance. Dance”, which we’ve shared with you, and dropped “Little Bit" mid-set. And even something as subtle as the little chimes, she clinked with sassy and fire.

Look at those eyes......

Lykke Li's naiveté and unabashed youth was apparent especially in comparison to Sarah Assbring of El Perro Del Mar. For Lyyke Li’s tsunami of energy- Sarah is a trickling lake- calm, cooling, and sedate. For those intent on introspection, Sarah fit the bill. It was more apparent than ever live, (going back to the bug under the mic analogy) that Ms. Assbring's songs are windows to her soul- and that soul hurts, is strained, and at times, suffocated. There's a forboding layer of saddness beneath each song- from "Do Not Despair" to the ethereal "Inner Island."

Sarah Assbring is the yang to Lykke Li’s optimistic ying- and for that reason, the set contrast was often hard to palate. After being led to dance, it was hard to find the emotion to cry. Most of the crowd only perked to attention when Lykke Li graced the stage once more for several songs, including "Inner Island" and the closer, "After Laughter (Comes Tears)."

Pictures by Faith-Ann Young 

Related RCRD LBL Posts